My path to tutoring started with a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics from San Francisco State University, studying grammar, phonetics, and language acquisition. I followed that with a Level 3 TEFL Certificate (120 hours) through The TEFL Academy, accredited by Qualifi under UK Ofqual regulation and DEAC-approved in the US, which trained me in lesson planning for mixed-level classrooms, teaching all four core language skills, and grounding pronunciation and grammar instruction in real...
My path to tutoring started with a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics from San Francisco State University, studying grammar, phonetics, and language acquisition. I followed that with a Level 3 TEFL Certificate (120 hours) through The TEFL Academy, accredited by Qualifi under UK Ofqual regulation and DEAC-approved in the US, which trained me in lesson planning for mixed-level classrooms, teaching all four core language skills, and grounding pronunciation and grammar instruction in real linguistic principles.
My teaching experience started with kids. As an After-School Program Leader with Lawton PRIDE at the Stonestown YMCA, I planned enrichment activities and gave one-on-one homework support to 2nd and 3rd graders, while supporting mixed groups from 4th through 8th grade. I later worked as a Camp Counselor at Steve & Kate's Camp, guiding children from kindergarten through 9th grade through hands-on activities, learning to adjust quickly for different ages and abilities.
On the adult side, several years in Product Operations at fintech companies like Upstart taught me what clear, confident professional English needs to sound like in meetings, emails, and presentations, which now shapes how I coach Business English and workplace communication. Volunteer work coordinating international trips to Taiwan, Ethiopia, and China, plus travel to all seven continents, adds a patient, cross-cultural approach to how I teach.
Whether I'm building reading fluency with a student or helping a professional sound more confident at work, my approach is the same: identify what you need, build lessons around real progress, and keep it encouraging rather than stressful.
